Soccer
Soccer Canada AGM
Each year sports groups and/or organizations hold regular meeting which are known as the Annual General Meetings (AGM) in hopes of either getting news views or rules passed along with getting new members to the various boards.
This takes place in all minor sport in each province and not only does it bring new members, it also brings new ideas to grow their respective sports.
This year, which can be known as a milestone year Canada Soccer held their AGM in which the membership not only approved, but passed two key parts for the game.
First was the unanimous approval of the Canadian Premier League to grow and promote the game through a professional league and second was the election of Mr. Steve Reed as Canada Soccer’s 34th President.
He (Mr. Reed) will serve the remaining three years of Mr. Victor Montagliani’s four-year term, who leaves the post after being elected President of CONCACAF.
“I would like to thank the Canada Soccer Membership for the opportunity as we continue the incredible momentum for the sport of soccer in our country,” said Steve Reed, President-elect, Canada Soccer.”
He continues “This was an important day for our sport with the unanimous approval of the Canadian Premier League along with Hamilton and Winnipeg as new members of the Association and the overwhelming support for the 2026 FIFA World Cup joint bid with USA and Mexico. I look forward to serving the Membership and building on the legacy of Victor Montagliani’s leadership of the past five years.”
The Canadian Premier League (CPL) has received interest from 10 cities from across the Canada to participate in an all-Canadian professional soccer league and will assess all candidates over the next few months.
Given the growth of soccer in Canada over the past while in part due to the MLS Clubs and let’s not forget the recent signing a three-member CONCACAF agreement with USA and Mexico to submit a unified bid to host the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
For those not familiar with this, the bid marks a milestone which represents the first time that three nations would jointly host a FIFA competition.
It has received the unanimous support from CONCACAF’s 41 member associations which is precedent setting by any standards.
If you remember watching the match at the Rio 2016 Women’s Olympic Football Tournament where Canada won Bronze which was voted the Top
Canada Soccer’s Women’s National Team became the first Canadian team in history to ever win back-to-back Summer Olympic medals since 1908.
Canada Soccer continues to build momentum through its 2014-18 Strategic Plan – A Leading Soccer Nation and Canada Soccer is making progress and likely to succeed with the implementation and execution of the sport’s four strategic priorities:
- Invest in Technical Leadership
- Ensure Consistent, World-Class Performances
- Encourage and Oversee the Growth of the Game
- Govern the Game in Canada Professionally in Collaboration with our Partners
The 2017 Annual Meeting of the Members also completes a five-year term by outgoing President Victor Montagliani, who continues in the sport as President of CONCACAF and Vice-President of FIFA.
“No one has committed more to Canadian soccer than Victor Montagliani and he will continue to be an important voice for the sport in our country,” said Peter Montopoli, Canada Soccer General Secretary. “I would like to thank Victor for his countless contributions, for his professionalism, his vision, his friendship, and, most of all, for his love of the game. We wish him well as he has been an inspiration for all of us in our great sport!”